Vacuum handling apparatus



1955 K. P. BILLNER ET AL 2,715,038

VACUUM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQRS Korl P Blllner Jacob J. Creskoff Harold A. Maxwell ATTORNEY Aug. 9, 1955 K. P. BILLNER ET AL VACUUM HANDLING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1954 r .ll n m mamu m mo MP MI MY bd E. .10 N 00 0 J a A Aug. 9, 1955 K. P. BILLNER ET AL 2,715,038

VACUUM HANDLING APPARATUS Filed May 28, 1954' 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. ll

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,715,038 VACUUM HANDLING APPARATUS Karl P. Billner, Philadelphia, Jacob J. Creskoff, Wynnewood, and Harold. A. Maxwell, Drexel Hill, Pa., assignors to Vacuum Concrete, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania- ApplicationMay 28,1954, Serial No. 433,193 10 Claims. (Cl. 294-65) This invention relates to handling apparatus utilizing subatmospheric pressures for the handling of materials. In the handling of certain. types of loads, it becomes advantageous to utilize a plurality of vacuum mats suspended from a common supporting frame in such a manner that eachof the mats can enjoy a certain amount of freedom of movement relative to others of the mats so as to accommodate variations in sizes and positions of the body or bodies constituting the load. It is also ad.- vantageous to provide for such an apparatus a relatively large vacuum chamber relatively near the mats so as to render them. effective even where a relatively large number of the mats have their vacuum lines opened at the same time. In these respects among others, the present invention represents improvements for some uses over the apparatus disclosed in the patent to Bilner, No. 2,578,220, dated December 11, 1951.

The apparatus of the present invention will be quite useful in the handling of so-called mattresses of, the type employed in river control. In the handling of such mattresses or other bodies to remove them from their molds, the adhesion presents a problem in addition to the weight of such bodies. To facilitate the removal of such bodies from their molds, one form of the present invention contemplates suspension of adjacent mats at unequal distances from their supporting frame so that only a portion of the load due to adhesion need be overcome at any particular stage of the lifting operation.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a

plurality of independent mats, flexible elements suspending the mats from the frame, each of the mats including a body member having a deformable work engaging and sealing gasket secured thereto defining a chamber having an open end, flexible members interconnecting adjacent mats, conduit means communicating with the chamber of each of the mats, for exhausting fluid therefrom, a valve for controlling communication between each chamber and the conduit means, and an actuator connected with the valve of each chamber projecting beyond the gasket thereof for actuation of its valve upon contact with a work surface.

The flexible members may interconnect each of the mats intermediate the terminal mats with at least two other mats and the mats themselves are preferably disposed in substantial alignment, though there may be a plurality of rows of such mats. For certain applications the mats are suspended at substantially equal distances from the frame while for other purposes, as already indicated, adjacent mats are suspended at unequal distances from the frame. The frame is preferably hollow defining a vacuum. chamber in communication with the conduit means and it may be composed of a hollow cylinder closed to atmosphere such as would be provided by a capped length of pipe.

The actuators are resilient and yieldable so that they will not be broken in the event that a projection interferes with the opening of its valve. Instead, under the members of the several mats stiff as compared-with the flexible membersinterconnect- 2,715,038 Patented Aug. 9, 1955 weight of its. mat, the actuator will yield. The body are preferably relatively ing them.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow from a description of the accompanying drawings.

wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a form of handling apparatus contemplated by the present invention;

P Fig. 2 is an elevation of the apparatus depicted in Fig. 3is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section depicting a joint between. adjacent mats on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view depictingone of the mats;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a modification;-

Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the apparatus of Fig. 6;v

Pig. 8 is an end elevation of the apparatus. of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 6 taken along line 99 thereof;

Fig, 10 is a fragmentary sectionad an alternate form of joint between transversely disposed mats applicable to the apparatus of both Fig. 1 and Fig, 6; and

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of handling apparatusaccordingto any of theproposed modifications.

The handling apparatus depicted in the drawings employs a supporting frame. in the form of a cylindrical,

its ends closed by heads 22 weldare in substantial. alignment horizontally as well as vertically. With reference to. Fig. 3, it will be noted that each of the body members 28 has secured thereto a pair of sponge rubber gaskets 30 so that there will be two longitudinal rows of vacuum chambers. 32 provided by the mats.

As depicted in Fig. 4, the longitudinal joints between adjacent mats are formed by flexible members 34 in the form of rubberized fabric strips or the like, typified by conventional belting, secured to the body members of adjacent mats. by means of bolts 36 and nuts 38. The nature of this flexible material is. such that it will yield to permit limited relative movement between adjacent.

mats. vertically as well as in torsion thereby facilitating the handling of loads having uneven surfaces or displaced elements. With. reference to Fig. 10, it will be .28 by means of a suitable adhesive and. positioned. by

locating strips 42 which may be welded to the lower surfaces of the body members. by a gasket and its body member communicates with a source of subatmospheric pressure through a nipple 44 in registry with an opening through each body member;

a flexible hose 46 and a vacuum chamber defined by the hollow frame or beam 20 which communicates with a vacuum pump. through suitable hose connections 48.

elevation depicting Each chamber defined The vacuum pump, not shown, may be located remotely or it may be mounted on the frame itself.

The conduit means thus provided in communication with each of the mat chambers is closed with respect to each of such chambers by means of a normally closed valve 50 which may be biased by gravity or otherwise to its closed position against a seat 52 registering with the nipple 44. Strips 54 welded to the underside of the body member of each mat provide bearings for a pin 56 about which the valve 50 is pivoted. A lever arm or actuator 58 for the valve in each case normally projects below the gasket 30 until it engages a load or other obstruction whereupon the actuator will be elevated to open the valve. This lever arm or actuator 58 is formed of resilient and yieldable material such as spring steel so as to actuate the valve under normal condition when it engages an obstruction but which will flex without breaking when it engages an obstruction extending appreciably above the plane of a load or when the valve itself is prevented from opening because of an obstruction.

From the structure thus far described, it will be evident that each intermediate mat 26 is interconnected with two longitudinally adjacent mats by means of the flexible members 34 and under some conditions, each intermediate mat 26 will be interconnected by means of one or more flexible members 40 with a transversely adjacent similar mat as illustrated in Fig. 11. In the case of the end mats 60, there is occasionally some tilting effect which prevents their proper seating. To overcome this tendency, bumpers 62 having heads 64 covered with rubber pads 66 are secured to the supporting frame directly over the terminal mats 60. Accordingly, when the supporting frame is lowered by a crane for engagement with a load, the rubber surfaces 66 of the bumpers 62 will encounter the end mats 60 and press them into fluid tight engagement with the end portions of the load so that the lifting effect will be produced at these points as well.

To facilitate alignment of the lifting apparatus with its load, handles 68 are secured to the end mats by means of suitable brackets 70 welded thereto.

Lifting lugs 72 are welded to the upper portion of the supporting frame 20 for attachment of chains or cables employed by the crane or other elevating equipment used.

With the hose connections 48 connected with a vacuum pump, a subatmosphe'ric pressure will be produced throughout the vacuum chamber defined by the hollow frame or beam 20 and the hose lines interconnecting it with the various mats so that when the apparatus is lowered into engagementwith a load to be lifted, as each mat engages the surface of the load its actuator 58 will be elevated opening its valve 50 so that the reduced pressure will withdraw air from between the load and the chamber defined by the gasket 30 and its body member 28, deforming the gasket 30 and thereby tending to move to a limited degree relative to similar mats adjacent thereto. As the slack provided by the yieldability of the flexible members 34 and 40 is taken up, there will be a tendency for adjacent mats to be pulled towards the load for similar engagement and deformation of their gaskets. Ultimately, the bumpers 62 will engage the end mats to assure their proper engagement with the load whereupon the entire apparatus with its load will be elevated for movement to a new location. Upon lowering the handling apparatus with its load at a new site, the vacuum pump can be stopped or a valve in its line closed whereupon the load will be released and the handling apparatus will be available for another operation.

The handling apparatus depicted in Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 differs from that of the preceding figures primarily in the use of flexible suspending elements of different lengths to impart to the mats as an entirety a somewhat catenary effect. The individual elements of this apparatus are substantially the same as those of the other figures and have been similarly identified. however, that no bumpers have been provided corresponding with those of the preceding figures since the use contemplated for the modification of Figs. 6, '7, 8 and 9 would not ordinarily require them. This modification is intended for use in removing articulated bodies fromtheir mold or molds, an operation which requires not only lifting the weight of the load but overcoming its adhesion with the mold or molds. Accordingly, when the apparatus as depicted in Fig. 7, is lowered into contact with the load, the lowering operation will proceed until each of the mats engages the load. Then, after the effect of subatmospheric pressure has caused each mat to engage its portion of the load, the handling apparatus will be elevated. Inasmuch as the flexible suspending elements for the end mats 69 are shorter than the others, the load elements engaged by these end mats of) will be elevated from their molds first. Then as the lifting of the apparatus continues, the next adjacent mats will overcome the weight and adhesion of their load elements so that the crane or other lifting equipment will be required to overcome the resistance of adhesion of only two load elements at any one time. After a load has been removed from its mold or molds, it can be deposited at any desired location by lowering the barn dling apparatus until the load engages a supporting surface whereupon the vacuum pump will be disconnected or its operation terminated to release the load from the handling apparatus which becomes available for a new operation.

Whereas only two specific forms of the invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that many variations fall within the basic concept and accordingly, the forms illustrated and described should not limit the invention beyond the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of independent mats, flexible elements suspending said mats from said frame, each of said mats including a body member having a deformable work ongaging and sealing'gasket secured thereto defining a chamber having an open end, flexible members interconnecting adjacent mats, conduit means communicating with the chamber of each of said mats for exhausting fluid therefrom, a valve for controlling communication between each chamber and said conduit means, and an actuatc-r connected with the valve of each said chamber projecting beyond the gasket thereof for actuation of its valve upon contact with a work surface, adjacent mats being suspended at unequal distances from said frame.

2. Handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of independent mats, flexible elements suspending said mats from said frame, each of said mats including a body member having a deformable work engaging and sealing gasket secured thereto defining a chamber having an open end, flexible members interconnecting adjacent mats, conduit means communicating with the chamber of each of said mats for exhausting fluid therefrom, a valve for controlling communication between each chamber and said conduit means, and an actuator connected with the valve of each said chamber projecting beyond the gasket thereof for actuation of its valve upon contact with a work surface, wherein said frame is hollow defining a vacuum chamber and communicates with said conduit means.

3. Handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of independent mats, flexible elements suspending said mats from said frame, each of said mats including a body member having a deformable work engaging and sealing gasket secured thereto defining a chamber having an open end, flexible members inter connecting adjacent mats, conduits means communicating with the chamber of each of said mats for exhausting fluid therefrom, a valve for controlling communica- It will be noted tion between each chamber and said conduit means, and an actuator connected with the valve of each said chamber projecting beyond the gasket thereof for actuation of its valve upon contact with a work surface, wherein said frame comprises a hollow cylinder closed to atmosphere and communicates with a source of subatmospheric pressure and with said conduit means.

4. Handling apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of independent mats, flexible elements suspending said mats from said frame, each of said mats including an individual body member having a deformable work engaging and sealing gasket secured thereto defining a chamber having an open end, connecting members more flexible in bending and torsion than said body members interconnecting adjacent mats, said connecting members being of such a character as to permit disposition of adjacent mats in a plurality of planes, con- .duit means communicating with the chamber of each of said mats for exhausting fluid therefrom, a valve for controlling communication between each chamber and said conduit means, and an actuator connected with the valve of each said chamber projecting beyond the gasket thereof for actuation of its valve upon contact with a work surface.

5. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mats include terminal mats and intermediate mats, and said flexible members interconnect each of said intermediate mats with at least two others of said mats.

6. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mats are disposed in substantial alignment.

7. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mats are suspended at substantially equal distances from said frame.

8. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuators are resilient and yieldable under the weight of their respective mats.

9. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said body members are relatively stifl as compared with said connecting members.

10. Handling apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said mats include terminal mats and intermediate mats and are arranged in a plurality of rows, said connecting members interconnecting each intermediate mat with mats in at least two of said rows.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 750,667 Lewellyn et al Jan. 26, 1904 1,047,954 Krohne Dec. 24, 1912 1,068,563 Carr July 29, 1913 2,390,242 Engler Dec. 4, 1945 2,475,073 Billner II July 5, 1949 2,578,220 Billner Dec. 11, 1951 2,651,538 Stahmer Sept. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 307,930 Germany Sent. 25. 1918 

